1998 Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (Empact)

The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications
from eligible candidates under the Environmental Monitoring for Community
Tracking and Public Access Grants Program, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces its intent to support
a competition in Fiscal Year (FY) 1998 as part of a new program called
Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT).
The ultimate goal of EMPACT is to provide public access to clearly-communicated,
time-relevant (timely or real-time), useful, and accurate environmental
monitoring data in an ongoing and sustainable manner in 86 of the larger
U.S. metropolitan areas. Environmental monitoring consists of the systematic
measurement, evaluation, and communication of physical, chemical, and biological
information intended to give insight into environmental conditions. EMPACT
seeks to assist the American public in day-to-day decision-making about
their health and the environment.

This solicitation will lead to grant awards to establish pilot programs
in a limited number of eligible cities. The pilot programs (city pilots)
will emphasize active partnerships between local and state government,
research institutions, non governmental organizations (NGOs), the private
sector, and the Federal Government to provide timely environmental information
to the public. The pilots will also emphasize the utilization of advanced
and innovative technologies to monitor environmental conditions and to
provide and communicate environmental information to citizens. It is essential
that data and information derived from EMPACT monitoring activities be
disseminated using terminology and format that are clearly understandable,
relevant, and credible to the lay public.

Proposed partnerships under this competition must be established with
formal agreements (i.e. Memoranda of Understanding, contracts, sub-grants)
which outline the roles and responsibilities of individual partners in
the EMPACT project. Proposed projects are encouraged to capitalize on existing
activities or tools and capabilities that are commercially available or
within the public domain. Approximately $3.5 million will be made available
for this competition, with a projected award range from $250,000 to a maximum
of $600,000 over the total life of the project, and a total project duration
of 12 to 24 months. Awards are subject to the availability of funds.

As part of a new Presidential initiative, EPA is charged, along with
its partners (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
and United States Geologic Survey (USGS)) with developing a program to
improve the measurement, access, understanding and dissemination of key
environmental information in 86 of the larger U.S. metropolitan areas (see
Attachment A for definition of metropolitan area and list of the 86). This
is to be accomplished by: (1) application of innovative technologies that
support time-relevant environmental monitoring, and (2) providing effective
tools for managing and communicating the resulting environmental information.
The goals of EMPACT are to:

*Establish partnerships with states and communities to ensure that the
information is useful and timely for families and communities;

*Develop a framework within which communities can work, but that will
also provide the ability to aggregate information on a local, regional,
and national scale.

2.2 DESCRIPTION

The EPA is seeking applications for assistance to establish EMPACT pilot
projects that demonstrate innovative and effective ways to monitor, deliver,
and communicate time-relevant, scientifically sound, environmental information
to citizens. Proposed projects may address one or several time-relevant
environmental parameters related to air quality, water quality, ecosystem
quality, or other important environmental conditions at places where citizens
live, work, learn and recreate. Time-relevant environmental data are those
collected and communicated to the public in a time frame that is relevant
to the temporal variability of the parameter measured. For example, the
amount of UV radiation reaching the earth varies daily, while water quality
in a small lake may change significantly on only a weekly or monthly basis.

Providing time-relevant information consists of three activities:

1) ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETER MONITORING/MEASUREMENT;

2) INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, PROCESSING, AND DELIVERY; and

3) COMMUNICATION of information to citizens.

Eligible project applications must include (i.e. describe the approach
to) all three elements. If any of the three elements are already in place,
they should be described in the proposal, although they are not eligible
for funding.

*INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, PROCESSING, AND DELIVERY involves the
transmission, storage, or processing of measurements of environmental parameters;
dissemination using new, or innovative technologies that can capture the
environmental data; and making the data available to the general public
in a timely fashion. Information management also involves data documentation
and data standardization.

*COMMUNICATION involves interpreting and presenting information
in a time-relevant manner to citizens in a format that is easily understood
and will be useful to their day-to-day decision-making relative to their
environment.

Time-relevant environmental data are those collected and subsequently
communicated to the public in a time frame that is relevant to the temporal
variability of the parameter measured. Depending on the parameter, the
interval over which the information is collected will be variable. As a
general rule, the sampling interval of measurement for environmental variables
will be some interval less than the average time it takes for that variable
to undergo a significant or relevant change.

2.3 PROJECT COMPONENTS

All EMPACT project applications must address how the project will accomplish
each of the following three project components although funding may be
requested for one, two or all three components:

A. Development of new technology or application of existing innovative
technology to measure/monitor time-relevant data.

Work on this component includes the development, application, or augmentation
of innovative advanced technologies to measure and monitor time-relevant
environmental data in an EMPACT metropolitan area where time-relevant
environmental information was not previously available to the general public.
The applicant should define the sampling interval of the environmental
parameter(s) to be monitored or measured. Applicable quality assurance
procedures must be implemented and described to ensure that valid measurements
are obtained.

B. Application of information management, processing, and delivery
system technologies to the collection of time-relevant environmental measuring/monitoring
data.

Work on this component requires the application of data management,
processing, and delivery system technologies to handle time relevant
environmental data in an EMPACT metropolitan area. Applications should
detail the hardware/software technologies that will be used for data processing
and in management systems. Applications should address data management
responsibilities among collaborative partners to ensure data documentation
and data standardization in the project. At a minimum, data must be made
available on the Internet.

C. Communication of time relevant environmental information to the
public.

This component involves the development and implementation of effective
communication to the public that will provide time-relevant information
in a format that is easily understood (e.g. mapping, graphics, data modeling
and trends analysis based on time-relevant information, explanatory material,
or visualization via TV broadcasts, radio announcements, newspapers, Internet,
etc.) and useful to their day-to-day decision-making about their health
and the environment. Effective communication includes providing contextual
information to help the user(s) understand the limitations of the data
and the relevance of the data to environmental conditions. Each application
must include the provision for an Internet home page for describing their
program and for posting their project's local environmental data. A need
for public access to this information in the EMPACT metropolitan area must
be established in the project application.

2.4 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

2.4.1 Community-based Approach

The goals of community-based environmental protection are to enhance
the citizen's understanding of environmental issues, build the capacity
for communities to address these issues, develop tools, information, and
data to assist communities in addressing environmental problems,
and ensure communities' access to credible scientific information. Community-based
environmental protection considers an area or subregion from the standpoint
of particular cultural, physical, ecological, socio-economic, or other
characteristics with which people identify or assign value. A community-based
approach is best suited for decision-making at the local to state level.

2.4.2 Partnerships and Consortium Building

The most competitive applications under this solicitation will be developed
by a consortium of organizations with a variety of expertise. The consortium
might include, for example, several of the following entities: state or
local governments, Tribal governments, community groups, universities,
NGOs, private corporations, or the Federal Government. These entities would
participate from inception (designing the project) to completion (analyzing
and disseminating the results of the project). However, the grant awardees
(principal investigating organization) must be a local government as defined
in 40CFR Part 31.3 representing one of the 86 EMPACT metropolitan areas.
(Tribal governments located in one of the EMPACT metropolitan areas are
also eligible to apply.) The grant awardees may provide resources to partners
in the consortium through appropriate funding vehicles (e.g. sub-contract,
sub-grant). A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Letter of Commitment,
or other appropriate documentation detailing the roles and responsibilities
of the partners and plans for coordination and cooperation must be provided
as part of the application. (The MOU should be limited to 2 pages and may
be in addition to the 15 page application limit).

Applications must have a specific geographic focus (must address
an information need of one or more EMPACT metropolitan areas) but the
outcomes and outputs must be ongoing, sustainable and transferable
to other communities. Applications should specify where resources may be
leveraged. Leveraging of resources through matching funds or in-kind services
provided by any or all of the project consortium members is encouraged
and will be considered in final project selections (refer to Section
6.2D). EPA is interested in assisting local communities/cities to develop
the infrastructure to monitor, manage and deliver time-relevant environmental
information to citizens without continuing support under this grant program
after the end of the grant award year(s).

2.4.3 Stakeholder Involvement

In addition to the partnerships created by the project consortium, the
proposed project must be prepared to work with all stakeholders. Stakeholders
include any group or individual who is affected by or can affect the future
of the project. Stakeholders might include for example: community groups,
local health care providers, chambers of commerce, industry, school district
officials, city planning organizations, park service, parents, etc.

2.4.4 Project Management Plan

Project applicants must provide Project Management Plans demonstrating
their ability to manage this project. The plan should include information
on the management of current and future available resources (dollars and
personnel), the name of the individual who has overall management responsibility
and authority, an organization chart that illustrates the relationship
among partners, plans for assignment of responsibilities and any necessary
arrangements to ensure a coordinated effort, and a time line (including
phases of work and milestones) for completing this project. (This should
be limited to 6 pages and may be in addition to the 15 page application
text).

2.4.5 Information Management

Each application must include a preliminary Information Management Plan.
The need for a quality preliminary Information Management Plan is critical
to ensure effective resource allocation in the development and delivery
of EMPACT data and to assure that EMPACT project managers and subsequent
data users understand the information in the collected and retrieved databases.
All data collected must be made available in electronic format and stored
in a computer.

The Information Management Plan must include the following elements:

A. Name(s) of the data owners (e.g. organization that collects or manages
the data),

B. Description of the data flow process (i.e. from collection to storage
to retrieval to delivery),

D. Description of the data storage and retrieval system, including
associated hardware and software,

E. Description of the data delivery system, and

F. Budgetary information on the development, operations and maintenance
of the system.

(This should be limited to 6 pages and may be in addition to the
15 page application text).

EPA is developing a set of standard Information Management guidelines.
At a minimum, these guidelines require data to be made available on the
Internet and a statement of plans for coordinating with the national EMPACT
Internet homepage. Winning applicants will be expected to incorporate these
into the final Information Management Plan. Once project awards are made,
successful awardees will be expected to coordinate with EPA in order to
develop an information management approach consistent with Federal and
EPA Information Management Systems.

3.0 ELIGIBILITY

Local governments, as defined by
40CFR Part 31.3, and located in one of the 86 EMPACT metropolitan areas
in the U.S., are eligible to apply for this program (see attached definition
of metropolitan area and list of 86 larger U.S. metropolitan areas). Tribal
governments located within an EMPACT metropolitan area are also eligible to
apply. The local government will be the grant awardee although the most successful
applications will be developed in cooperation with a consortium of partners
(refer to Section 2.4.2). Partner organizations may receive funds through sub-contracts
with the awardee institution. Where multiple organizations are involved, the
application must be submitted by only one of them (i.e. local government organization).
The role to be played by each of the members of the consortium must be described
in the application which should also include information on the legal and managerial
arrangements contemplated.

In accordance with Federal statutes and regulations and EPA policies,
no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability
shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be
subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial
assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency.

4.0 FUNDING

Approximately $3.5 million will be made available for this competition,
with a projected award range from $250,000 to a maximum of $600,000 over
the total life of the project, and a total project duration of 12 to 24
months. Awards are subject to the availability of funds.

5.0 INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION

5.1 LETTER OF INTENT

Letters of Intent are to facilitate EPA's planning for application reviews
and are not binding on the applicants. The Letter of Intent should identify
the EMPACT metropolitan area where the project will be conducted, the lead
local government organization and contact, the proposed project title,
and a brief statement of the main project objective(s). The Letter of Intent
must be limited to a single (1) page.

The Letter of Intent should be received by 4:00 PM EST, March 2,
1998. Mail, the Letter of Intent to:

The sorting code must be identified in the address (as shown above).
Applications sent via courier or express mail should have the following
telephone number listed on the express mail label: (202) 564-6939.

5.2 THE APPLICATION

The application is made through the submission of the materials described
below. It is important that the application contain all the information
requested and be submitted in the formats described. If it is not, the
application may be eliminated from review on administrative grounds. Once
an applicant is chosen for award (i.e., after external peer review and
internal programmatic review), additional documentation and forms will
be requested by the Project Officer. The application contains the following:

A.Standard Form 424: The applicant must complete Standard Form
424 (see below for form and instructions). This form will act as a cover
sheet for the application and should be its first page. Instructions for
completion of the SF424 are included with the form. The form must contain
the original signature of an authorized representative of the applying
institution. Please note that both the Principal Investigator and an administrative
contact should be identified in Section 5 of the SF424.

B.Key Contacts: The applicant must complete the Key Contacts
Form as the second page of the submitted application

C.Abstract: The abstract is a very important document. Prior
to attending peer review panel meetings, some of the panelists may read
only the abstract. Therefore, it is critical that the abstract accurately
describe the project being proposed and convey all the essential components
of the project. Also, in the event of an award, the abstracts will form
the basis for an annual report of awards made under this program. The abstract
should include the following information:

1.Sorting Code: Use the correct code that corresponds to this
RFA. The code for EMPACT is 98-NCERQA-S1.

2.Title: Use the exact title as it appears in the rest of the
application.

3.Investigators: List the names and affiliations of each investigator
who will significantly contribute to the project including the Principal
Co-Investigators from each of the partner organizations in the project
consortium. Start with the Principal Investigator from the local government.

4.Project Summary: This should summarize: (a) the objectives
of the study, (b) the approach to be used (which should give an accurate
description of the project as described in the application), and (c) the
expected results of the project and how they address the program needs
identified in the solicitation.

The abstract must not exceed one 8.5x11 inch page of single spaced standard
12 point type with 1 inch margins.

D.Project Description: This description is not to exceed fifteen
(15) consecutively numbered (center bottom), 8.5x11 inch pages of single-spaced
standard 12 point type with 1 inch margins, exclusive of the references
cited. The description must provide the following information:

1.Objectives: List objective(s) of the proposed project and the
EMPACT metropolitan area where the proposed project will be conducted.
Include a statement on the context of the proposed project in relation
to other environmental projects in the proposed EMPACT metropolitan area.
Justify the general public's need for the project in the proposed EMPACT
metropolitan area.

2.Approach: Outline the methods, approaches, and techniques that
you intend to employ in meeting the objectives stated above. Describe how
the project will address the three required project components: (1) TIME-RELEVANT
ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETER MONITORING/MEASUREMENT, (2) TIME-RELEVANT INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT, PROCESSING, AND DELIVERY, AND (3) TIME-RELEVANT COMMUNICATION.

3.Expected Results or Benefits: Describe the results you expect
to achieve during the project and the benefits of success as they relate
to the project objectives and components.

4.General Project Information: Discuss other information relevant
to the potential success of the project. This should include facilities,
personnel, project schedules, proposed management structure, interactions
with stakeholders, etc.

5.Important Attachments: Appendices, or other information unless
excepted (E-K) below, must be included within the 15-page limit. References,
Memoranda of Understanding between the partners within the metropolitan
area consortium, the Project Management Plan, the Information Management
Plan, resumes, Budget, Budget Justification, and Quality Assurance/Quality
Control Narrative Statement, may be in addition to the 15 page limit.

E. Memorandum of Understanding: The MOU (refer to Section 2.4.2)
must be limited to two (2) pages and may be in addition to the 15 page
application limit.

F.Project Management Plan: The Management Plan (refer to Section
2.4.4) must be limited to six (6) pages and may be in addition to the 15
page application limit.

G. Information Management Plan: The Information Management Plan
(refer to Section 2.4.5) must be limited to six (6) pages and may be in
addition to the 15 page application limit.

H. Resumes: The resumes of all principal investigators and key
project personnel should be presented. Each resume must not exceed two
consecutively numbered (bottom center), 8.5x11 inch pages of single-spaced
standard 12 point type with 1 inch margins.

I. Budget: A detailed, itemized budget for each year of the one
or two year proposed project must be included. This budget must utilize
the format shown in the forms file at end of document (do not try to squeeze
your complete budget on the "form" shown as an example). Budget
should include funds for travel to one annual meeting with OIRM to plan
for coordinated information management and one annual program-wide meeting
in Washington, D.C. These meetings at a minimum must involve the Principal
Investigators from each metropolitan area project.

J. Budget Justification: This section should describe the basis
for calculating the personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies,
contractual support, construction, and other costs identified in the itemized
budget. This should also include an explanation of how the indirect costs
and charges were calculated. This justification should not exceed two consecutively
numbered (bottom center), 8.5x11 inch pages of single-spaced standard 12
point type with 1 inch margins.

K. Quality Assurance Narrative Statement: A quality assurance
system that complies with the requirements of ANSI/ASQC E4, "Specifications
and Guidelines for Quality Systems for Environmental Data Collection and
Environmental Technology Programs," must be provided. All applications
must have this statement, which should not exceed two consecutively numbered
(bottom center), 8.5x11 inch pages of single-spaced standard 12 point type
with 1 inch margins. The Quality Assurance Narrative Statement should either
present the required information or provide a justification as to why the
item does not apply to the proposed project for each item listed below:

1.The data collection activities to be performed (reference may be made
to the specific page and paragraph number in the application where this
information may be found); acceptance criteria for data quality (precision,
accuracy, representativeness, completeness, comparability, time-relevancy).

2.The survey design including sample type and location requirements
and any statistical analyses that were used to estimate the types and numbers
of samples required.

3.The procedures for the handling and custody of samples, including
sample identification, preservation, transportation, and storage.

4.The methods that will be used to analyze samples collected, including
a description of the sampling and/or analytical instruments required.

5.The procedures that will be used in the calibration and performance
evaluation of the sampling and analytical methods used during the project.

6.The intended use of the data as they relate to the project objectives.

7.The quantitative and or qualitative procedures that will be used to
evaluate the success of the project.

8.Any plans for peer or other reviews of the survey design or analytical
methods prior to data collection.

9.The procedures for data reduction and reporting, including description
of statistical analyses to be used.

[ANSI/ASQC E4, "Specifications and Guidelines for
Quality Systems for Environmental Data Collection and Environmental Technology
Programs," is available for purchase from the American Society for
Quality Control, 1-800 248-1946, item T55. Only in exceptional circumstances
should it be necessary to consult this document.]

5.3 HOW TO APPLY

The original and fifteen (15) copies of the fully developed application
and five (5) additional copies of the abstract (20 in all), must be received
by NCER no later than 4:00 P.M. EST on the closing date, May
15, 1998.

The application and abstract must be prepared in accordance with these
instructions. Informal, incomplete, or unsigned applications will not be
considered. Completed applications should be sent via regular or express
mail to:

The sorting code must be identified in the address (as shown above).
Applications sent via express mail should have the following telephone
number listed on the express mail label: (202) 564-6939.

Application must include a blank, self-addressed, stamped post card.
This will be returned to the applicant to acknowledge that the application
has been received.

5.4 WITHDRAWAL

Applications may be withdrawn by the applicant at any time. Applicants
are requested to notify EPA if the project is funded by another organization
or circumstances change which dictate termination of evaluation.

6.0 REVIEW AND SELECTION

6.1 REVIEW PROCEDURES

All grant applications are initially screened by EPA to determine their
compliance with legal and administrative requirements. Acceptable applications
are then reviewed by an appropriate peer review group. This review is designed
to evaluate each application based on the criteria and considerations outlined
in Section 6.2 (e.g. technical/scientific merit, commitment to work with
partners, feasibility of project). Each review group will be composed primarily
of a multi disciplinary team from universities, industry, non-government
organizations (NGOs), and government (non-EPA) who are experts in their
respective disciplines. The criteria described in Section 6.2 will be given
equal consideration in the review process. Although multiple applications
may be submitted from local governments from within a single metropolitan
area, only one of the successful applications from a single metropolitan
area will be selected for an award. EPA's Office of Research and Development
will have the final authority in the selection of awards. The Agency's
final decision will be based on the recommendations of the peer review,
the best interest of the Agency, and the overall goals and objectives of
the EMPACT Program.

The time-relevancy of the proposed monitoring, information management
and delivery, and communication will also be assessed.

B. Technical and Scientific Merit of Approach

The soundness of the technical and scientific approach to time-relevant
monitoring and measurement, information collection, management and delivery,
and communication of environmental information to the public. Also, the
appropriateness and adequacy of the quality assurance narrative statement
will be considered.

C. Team Approach through Consortium and Memorandum of Understanding

The consortium includes a variety of expertise (e.g. monitoring, data
management, communication) representing varied interests in the community.
The consortium has a signed Memorandum of Understanding (or other appropriate
documentation) detailing the roles and responsibilities of the various
entities and a plan for cooperation and coordination between them (refer
to Section 2.4.2 Partnerships and Consortium Building). No preference
in ranking and selection will be given to those projects that propose EPA
involvement over those that do not.

D. Leveraging Additional Resources

The amount and appropriateness of additional resources leveraged through
in-kind contributions, matching funds, or other additional resources (e.g.
equipment) from partners (refer to Section 2.4.2 Partnerships and Consortium
Building).

E. Adequacy of Project Management Plan

The application must demonstrate that applicants have an adequate Project
Management Plan that clearly demonstrates their ability to manage this
project (refer to Section 2.4.4 Project Management Plan).

F. Adequacy of Information Management Plan

The application must demonstrate that applicants can provide an adequate
preliminary Information Management Plan documenting their plans for data
collection, storage, retrieval, and delivery as well as procedures for
data quality control and security (refer to Section 2.4.5 Information
Management Plan).

G. Feasibility of Project

Feasibility of conducting the project in the EMPACT metropolitan area
with the proposed resources including:

G.1.Adequacy of Facilities

The availability and/or adequacy of the facilities and equipment proposed
for the project.

G.2. Adequacy of Budget

Although budget information is not used by the reviewers as the basis
for their evaluation of technical/scientific merit, the reviewers are asked
to provide their input on the appropriateness and/or adequacy of the proposed
budget, including time commitment of all key personnel, and its implications
on the potential success of the proposed project will be considered. Input
on the appropriateness and/or adequacy of requested equipment is of particular
interest.

G.3. Knowledge, experience, and expertise of the project team and key
leaders

The team demonstrates a balance of technical and management expertise
and experience that would ensure success of the proposed project, such
as Co-Principal Investigators with expertise in environmental monitoring,
data management, communication of environmental information, and other
relevant areas.

6.3 TIME LINE FOR APPLICATION PROCESS

January 20, 1998Request for Applications Published in the Federal Register
and posted on the National Center for Environmental Research
(NCER) Internet home page, http://www.epa.gov/ncerqa

March 2, 1998Deadline for Letters of Intent received by EPA by 4:00
p.m. EST

May 15, 1998Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. EST

6.4 PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

By submitting an application in response to this solicitation, the applicant
grants EPA permission to share the application with technical reviewers
both within and outside the Agency. Applications containing proprietary
or other types of confidential information will not be reviewed.

6.5 GRANT ADMINISTRATION

The funding mechanism for all awards issued under this solicitation
will consist of an assistance agreement, either a grant or cooperative
agreement between EPA and the recipient. In accordance with Public Law
95-224, assistance agreements are used to accomplish a public purpose of
support or stimulation authorized by Federal statute rather than acquisition
for the direct benefit of the Agency. In using a grant agreement, EPA anticipates
that there will be no substantial involvement during the course of the
grant between the recipient and the Agency. In using a cooperative agreement,
EPA anticipates that there will be substantial involvement during the course
of the cooperative agreement between the recipient and the Agency, e. g.,
co-investigator from the Federal Government. EPA will determine the funding
mechanism for awards once the peer review and selection processes have
been completed.

EPA grants awarded as a result of this announcement will be administered
in accordance with 40 CFR Part 31 and 40.

EPA provides awards for research in the sciences and engineering related
to environmental protection. The awardee is solely responsible for the
conduct of such activities and preparation of results for publication.
EPA, therefore, does not assume responsibility for such findings or their
interpretation.

ATTACHMENT A

EMPACT Metropolitan Areas

Metropolitan Area: A metropolitan area includes at least one city with
50,000 or more inhabitants, or a Census Bureau-defined urbanized area (of
at least 50,000 inhabitants) and a total metropolitan population of at
least 100,000 (75,000 in New England). Under this standard, the county
(or counties) that contains the largest city becomes the "central
county" (counties), along with any adjacent counties that have at
least 50 percent of their population in the urbanized area surrounding
the largest city. Additional "outlying counties" are included
in the metropolitan area if they meet specified requirements of commuting
to the central counties and other selected requirements of metropolitan
character (such as population density and percent urban). In New England,
the metropolitan areas are defined in terms of cities and towns rather
than counties.

Forms necessary for submitting an EMPACT
application are found below. Before downloading the Forms you must have
on your computer Adobe Acrobat Reader Software 2.1 or 3.0. Both will work.
If you do have the software select line 1 below to download the Forms.
If you do not have the software you need to download the software first,
it is free of charge from the Adobe Web Site. The link for the site is
on Line 2, select it.